Abai Center
“You are a little brick in the wall of the world.
Find your place in it!”
Publications
Academic articles
The Death and Resurrection of the Aral Sea
The Aral Sea catastrophe has been known since the late 1980s as one of the largest environmental disasters in the world. Once the fourth-largest lake
Life and Work of the First Kazakh Artist, Abilkhan Kasteyev
Abilkhan Kasteyev (1904-1972), a Kazakh artist who was born at the dawn of the twentieth century, became the founder of visual arts in Soviet Kazakhstan.
Paul Labbe and His Unique Family Portraits of the Kazakh Steppe
Since at least the time of Marco Polo, the Kazakh steppes have attracted many visitors from the West: travelers, diplomats, traders, and researchers. Their notes,
Amanat: Women’s Writing from Kazakhstan
This July, Gaudy Boy will publish an English-language anthology of Kazakhstani women’s writing entitled Amanat. The anthology brings together short stories and essays by 13 women
“Eternal Values in the Work of the Great Abai”: An Essay Contest among the Kazakh Students
The Abai Center in Washington, D.C., supports Kazakh culture and cultural studies and aims to increases the American people’s awareness of—and interest in—various aspects of
Kazakh Graphic Illustrations of Evgeny Sidorkin
Evgeny Matveevich Sidorkin (1930-1982) is a Soviet graphic illustrator and artist who was recognized by several prestigious awards for his art. He mainly worked in
Deciphering the Saukele: The Traditional Headdress of Kazakh Brides
English transcript of the video presentation below Today I am going to talk about one particular type of traditional Kazakh clothing: the headdress of a
Petroglyphs of Kazakhstan
Author Alan Georgievich Medoev (1934-1980) Alan Medoev was born in Leningrad in 1934. In the 1960-1980s he guided archaeological teams and expeditions in
Podcast
The Stories of the Modern Kazakh Prose
Retelling selected stories of 20th century Kazakh Literature
“Death of a Borzoi” by Mukhtar Magauin
Mukhtar Magauin is a Kazakh writer, publicist, translator, and researcher of Kazakh folklore. In 1997, he received an international award from the Foundation of Artists
“The Last Madamar” by Anuar Alimzhanov
Anuar Alimzhanov was born on May 2, 1930, in the village of Karlygash in Taldykorgan region. From 1963 to 1967, he worked as editor-in-chief of
The Day the World Collapsed by Rollan Seisenbayev
Rollan Seisenbayev, born October 11, 1946, in Semipalatinsk, is a prominent contemporary Kazakh writer, playwright, and translator. His novels and short stories have been published
White Aruana by Satimzhan Sanbayev
Satimzhan Sanbayev is a Kazakh writer, film actor, and screenwriter. He won the Prize of the Union of Writers of the USSR in 1981 for
Unfortunate Jamal by Myrzhakyp Dulatov
Myrzhakyp Dulatov was born on November 25, 1885. He lost his parents early. Dulatov’s political creed was clearly articulated when, in 1909, he published his
Snow Girl by Oralkhan Bokeev
Oralkhan Bokeev (September 28, 1943 – May 17, 1993) was a Kazakh writer, playwright, and journalist. A bright and sensitive writer, a master wordsmith, Bokeev
Podcast
The Sounds of the Great Steppe
Listen to the latest episodes
Through Artists' Eyes
Abai Kunanbaiuly is one of the most inspiring figures in Kazakh art. Classic paintings, rare photos, and modern pop images depicting Abai transcend generations and social constructs. Every artist sees him differently, from their own soul, leading to particular representations and unique visuals.
Interviews
Abai Center Series
Western Travellers
Kazakhstan & Central Asia: Through the Eyes of Western Travelers
The Great Steppe has long attracted the intrepid and curious adventurers from the West. The Abai Center’s collection of their writings—travelogues, academic field work, diplomatic dispatches, and personal journals—are among the earliest observations of Turkic and nomad culture and customs to be published at large scale.
In the Kirghiz Steppes by J.W. Wardell
Courtesy of Personal Library of Former Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States of America H.E. Erzhan Kazykhanov Avid readers of the Abai Center are
A Traveller’s Companion to Central Asia by Kathleen Hopkirk
Courtesy of Personal Library of Former Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States of America H.E. Erzhan Kazykhanov Kathleen Hopkirk’s portrayals of Kazakhstan and the
Turkestan Reunion by Eleanor Holgate Lattimore
Courtesy of Personal Library of Former Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States of America H.E. Erzhan Kazykhanov Eleanor Holgate Lattimore was born in Evanston,
Events
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Posts
- The Death and Resurrection of the Aral Sea - Abai Center (June 12, 2024)
- Life and Work of the First Kazakh Artist, Abilkhan Kasteyev (May 24, 2024)
- Paul Labbe and His Unique Family Portraits of the Kazakh Steppe - Abai Center (April 15, 2024)
- Translating Kazakh Literature with Shelley Fairweather-Vega - Abai Center (December 12, 2023)
- Alash Orda and Global Modernization with Professor Tomohiko Uyama - Abai Center (October 24, 2023)
- Amanat: Women’s Writing from Kazakhstan - Abai Center (July 13, 2023)
- "Eternal Values in the Work of the Great Abai": An Essay Contest among the Kazakh Students - Abai Center (June 20, 2023)
- Kazakh Graphic Illustrations of Evgeny Sidorkin - Abai Center (June 13, 2023)
- Deciphering the Saukele: The Traditional Headdress of Kazakh Brides - Abai Center (June 13, 2023)
- Petroglyphs of Kazakhstan - Abai Center (June 13, 2023)
- Early Soviet Modernization in the Lives of Kazakh Women - Abai Center (June 13, 2023)
- The Cinema of Soviet Kazakhstan 1925–1991: An Uneasy Legacy. An interview with Peter Rollberg - Abai Center (June 13, 2023)
- The Lives and Work of Soviet Kazakh Women in Photos. From the Central State Archive of Film, Photo Documents, and Sound Recording of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Abai Center (June 13, 2023)
- Did the Kazakhs Have Their Own Dance Culture and What Are the Origins of Kara-Zhorga – The Nation’s Favorite Dance? - Abai Center (June 13, 2023)
- Language Politics in Kazakhstan with Professor William Fierman - Abai Center (May 31, 2023)
- Multi-Turkic Communities in Kazakhstan with Professors Irina Nevskaya and Saule Tazhibayeva - Abai Center (May 2, 2023)
- Kazakh Proverbs: What Can They Tell Us about the Kazakh Nation, Its Traditions, and Its Transformation? - Abai Center (May 2, 2023)
- The Life and Poetry of Mukaghali Makatayev with Professor Saule Abisheva - Abai Center (April 18, 2023)
- <strong>Joo-Yup Lee on His Travel<s>s</s> to Kazakhstan and the Russian Translation of His Book</strong> - Abai Center (November 28, 2022)
- Politics and Powers of the Kazakh Tribes with Dr. Gulnar Kendirbai - Abai Center (November 9, 2022)
- Kazakh Oral Poetry with Dr Charles Weller - Abai Center (November 9, 2022)
- Abai House - VR experience - Abai Center (November 4, 2022)
- The Steppes of the Irtish - Abai Center (October 28, 2022)
- The Sons of the Steppe - Abai Center (October 28, 2022)
- The Mountains of Turkestan - Abai Center (October 28, 2022)
- Meeting Place of Empires - Abai Center (October 28, 2022)
- Contemporary Kazakh Literature: POETRY - Abai Center (October 28, 2022)
- Contemporary Kazakh Literature: PROSE - Abai Center (October 28, 2022)
- Kazakhstan's Crafts and Creative Economy - Abai Center (October 26, 2022)
- Return of the Sage - Abai Center (October 26, 2022)
- Artists of Modern Kazakhstan - Abai Center (October 26, 2022)
- In the Kirghiz Steppes by J.W. Wardell - Abai Center (August 31, 2022)
- Frederick Starr: Lost Enlightenment | Abai Center Series - Abai Center (April 26, 2022)
- Happy Nowruz 🎉🎊💐🌹 - Abai Center (March 24, 2022)
- Anatoly Khazanov: Kazakh Nomadism | Abai Center Series - Abai Center (February 17, 2022)
- Ian Campbell: Kazakh Intelligentsia and Russian rule on the Steppe | Abai Center Series - Abai Center (February 17, 2022)
- Peter Rollberg: Kazakh cinema | Abai Center Series - Abai Center (February 17, 2022)
- Sean McDaniel: Horses and Power on the Kazakh Steppe | Abai Center Series - Abai Center (February 10, 2022)
- Megan Rancier: Music and National Identity | Abai Center Series - Abai Center (February 10, 2022)
- Dennis Keen: Exploring urban culture | Abai Center Series - Abai Center (February 10, 2022)
- Kazakh Social Structure - Abai Center (January 27, 2022)
- With the Nomads of Central Asia - Abai Center (January 6, 2022)
- Photo Gallery - Abai Center (November 9, 2021)
- Kazakh Cinema - Abai Center (November 9, 2021)
- Video Gallery - Abai Center (November 9, 2021)
- Kazakh Yurt 360 - Abai Center (November 4, 2021)
- Mother, wife, sister and daughter…A Kazakh woman at the top of the society - Abai Center (January 21, 2021)
- The Legacy of an International Partnership: Kazakhstan and the Smithsonian - Abai Center (December 23, 2020)
- A Traveller's Companion to Central Asia by Kathleen Hopkirk - Abai Center (November 30, 2020)
- Turkestan Reunion by Eleanor Holgate Lattimore - Abai Center (October 27, 2020)
- Peoples of the USSR by Anna Louise Strong - Abai Center (October 14, 2020)
- Chinese Central Asia by Henry Lansdell - Abai Center (September 30, 2020)
- Russian and Nomad by Edward Nelson Fell - Abai Center (September 15, 2020)
- Some Observations on Depictions of Early Turkic Costume - Abai Center (August 28, 2020)
- Sketches of Central Asia by Ármin Vámbéry - Abai Center (August 15, 2020)
- Connecting to Kazakh nomadic culture through sound: the qyl-qobyz - Abai Center (August 12, 2020)
- Jyrau – poets, warriors and strategic minds of the Steppes - Abai Center (August 7, 2020)
- Campaigning on the Oxus and the Fall of Khiva by J.A. MacGahan, Correspondent of the New York Herald - Abai Center (August 1, 2020)
- Through Asia by Sven Hedin - Abai Center (July 15, 2020)
- The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia - Abai Center (July 15, 2020)
- The great thinkers of Al-Farabi and Abai: a comprehension of their heritage - Abai Center (July 13, 2020)
- The Shores of Lake Aral - Abai Center (July 8, 2020)
- Journey of Thomas Atkinson - Abai Center (July 3, 2020)
- 'Through Russian Central Asia' by Stephen Graham - Abai Center (June 24, 2020)
- Along the Route of Samuil Dudin’s Expedition - Abai Center (June 18, 2020)
- Auezov in America - Abai Center (June 17, 2020)
- Kazakh Collection of the Museum of Oriental Art (Moscow) - Abai Center (June 13, 2020)
- 'Turkistan' by Eugene Schuyler - Abai Center (June 12, 2020)
- The Image of Abai in Kazakh Novels: The Case of Auezov - Abai Center (June 12, 2020)
- The ‘Alash’ Party and its Contribution to Kazakh Identity - Abai Center (June 12, 2020)
- Kazakhs and Kirgiz steppe by Swiss traveler Henri Moser - Abai Center (May 28, 2020)
- Central Asian roots of Turkic epics - Abai Center (April 16, 2020)
- Who is Abai for contemporary Kazakhstan? - Abai Center (March 27, 2020)
- The Modernist Way of Abai - Abai Center (March 10, 2020)
- Abai: A Poet for All Seasons - Abai Center (February 27, 2020)
Pages
- Photo Gallery - Abai Center (November 9, 2022)
- Kazakh Cinema - Abai Center (November 9, 2022)
- Video gallery - Abai Center (November 9, 2022)
- Publications - Abai Center (September 28, 2022)
- News - Abai Center (September 7, 2022)
- Home - Abai Center (August 31, 2022)
- Contact - Abai Center (August 31, 2022)
- Abai - Abai Center (August 31, 2022)
Content Blocks
- podcast steppe - Abai Center (May 3, 2023)
- Hook blocksy:hero:title:before - Abai Center (October 28, 2022)
Events
- Silk Road Festival - Abai Center (October 26, 2022)
- Film screenings - Abai Center (October 26, 2022)
- Nowruz - Abai Center (October 26, 2022)
- Abai Symposium at Harvard University - Abai Center (October 26, 2022)
Episode
- “Death of a Borzoi” by Mukhtar Magauin - Abai Center (December 18, 2023)
- “The Last Madamar” by Anuar Alimzhanov - Abai Center (November 29, 2023)
- The Day the World Collapsed by Rollan Seisenbayev - Abai Center (October 4, 2023)
- White Aruana by Satimzhan Sanbayev - Abai Center (September 27, 2023)
- Unfortunate Jamal by Myrzhakyp Dulatov - Abai Center (August 9, 2023)
- Snow Girl by Oralkhan Bokeev - Abai Center (June 27, 2023)
- Kokserek by Mukhtar Auezov - Abai Center (May 30, 2023)
- Akbilek by Zhusipbek Aimautov - Abai Center (May 4, 2023)
- The Sin of Sholpan by Magzhan Zhumabaev - Abai Center (May 4, 2023)
- Episode 10. Dina Nurpeisova - Abai Center (September 9, 2022)
- Episode 11. Nurgisa Tlendiev - Abai Center (September 9, 2022)
- Episode 9. Tattimbet Kazangapuly - Abai Center (July 4, 2022)
- Episode 8. Three-String Dombyra - Abai Center (July 4, 2022)
- Episode 7. Shankobyz - Abai Center (June 22, 2022)
- Episode 6. Ykhlas Dukenuly - Abai Center (June 22, 2022)
- Episode 4. Kurmangazy - Abai Center (May 12, 2022)
- Episode 5. Dauletkerey - Abai Center (May 12, 2022)
- Episode 3. Dombyra - Abai Center (May 12, 2022)
- Episode 2. The Kobyz kuys - Abai Center (April 26, 2022)
- Episode 1. The Sybyzgy Kuis - Abai Center (April 25, 2022)